VALDOSTA, Ga. – Fresh off its thrilling 8-3 win over top-ranked Tampa on Wednesday, the Valdosta State baseball team returns to Gulf South Conference play this weekend in a three-game series at Alabama Huntsville, Saturday and Sunday. The Blazers are 14-13 overall and 4-7 in GSC play.
Fans can access links to live stats, video streaming, ticket information and more on the series at vstateblazers.com on the baseball schedule page. Check back with the site for complete recaps and stats following each game of the series.
VSU had arguably its best game of the season in the victory at Tampa on Wednesday as it plated seven of the eight runs over the final six innings, including three key insurance runs in the top of the ninth for the victory. Five different Blazers had two hit each in the win and junior
Logan Stephens went 2 for 5 with three RBI in the game. The bullpen was solid as it went the final seven innings, allowing just one run on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts, holding the high-powered Spartan offense in check, handing Tampa its first loss in ten games.
UAH enters at 14-11 and 5-6 in league play and has lost its last three games, swept last weekend in a series against West Georgia. The Chargers are led by Malave Bettinger who is hitting .419 on the season with 31 hits, 15 runs, six doubles, two home runs and 34 RBI. He is slugging .581 and reaching base at a .541 clip with 15 walks and has been hit five times. Drake Hollingsworth is second in average at .409 on 26 of 64 with 14 runs scored, three doubles, one triple and 10 RBI. Nolan Ramsey is third in average at a .367 clip with 29 hits, 15 runs scored, six doubles, three triples, one home run and 24 RBI. Tyler McCown is 12 of 12 in stolen bases this season. As a team, the Chargers are hitting .303 with 239 hits, 182 runs scored, 50 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs and 159 RBI. The team is slugging .414 and reaching base at a .418 clip.
On the bump, Tyler Self leads the team in innings pitched with 32.1 as he is 3-2 with a 5.29 ERA in six starts. Self has fanned 31, walked 15, allowing 40 hits with 21 runs and 19 earned. Dylan Murphy leads the team with three saves. Brooks Broghy also is 3-2 on the year with a 4.91 ERA. As a team, the Chargers have a 5.26 ERA in 198.1 innings, allowing 208 hits, 130 runs – 116 earned, walked 92 and fanned 165.
The Blazers enter the week hitting .281 for the season on 237 of 843. They have scored 134 runs with 42 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 114 RBI. The team is slugging .352 and reaching base at a .377 clip, while going 47 of 64 in stolen bases and boast a .965 fielding percentage with 32 errors.
Individually, Stephens leads the team in average at a .375 clip on 24 of 64. He has three doubles, one triple and 10 RBI. Senior
DJ King is second in average at a .340 clip on 34 of 100, while scoring 21 runs with five doubles and 13 RBI. Senior
Josh Broughton leads the team with 35 hits in 105 at bats (.333) with a team-high nine doubles with one triple and one home run, while driving in 16. Senior
Mack Hathcock is fourth in average at .307, while recording a team-high 24 runs scored, with a team-best 21 walks and nine hit batsmen for a .483 on base percentage to lead the team. He is 12 of 13 in stolen bases to lead the team.
On the mound, VSU has a 3.81 ERA in 222.1 innings of work with one complete game, two shutouts and six saves. The Blazers have allowed 183 hits, 109 runs – 94 earned, walked 122 and fanned 275 as teams are hitting .222 against them. Junior
Jonathan Gettys is 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 33.1 innings with seven starts. He has fanned 50 to lead the team and walked 20, while junior
Tristan Cone is 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in nine appearances with five starts. Cone has pitched 32.1 innings with 43 strikeouts and 11 walks.
Following the series, VSU returns home to host Auburn Montgomery Mar. 30-31 in a GSC series at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park.
